Russian government recognizes as void agreement on transit for ISAF through country

MOSCOW, May 18. /TASS/. Moscow recognizes as null and void the agreement on transit of weapons and military equipment for International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan through the Russian territory, the governmental decree published on the official web portal of legal information said on Monday.

The document states that the Russian Foreign Ministry is tasked with informing the governments of foreign countries and international organizations about the decision.

Russia’s diplomatic agency reminded that ISAF transit of non-lethal cargo to and from Afghanistan through the Russian territory was allowed by the governmental decree from 28 March 2008. "The decision was made in the framework of adherence to the UN Security Council 1386 adopted on 20 December 2001, which called on Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and other UN member-countries to render necessary assistance to ISAF, including in terms of allowing flights over their territory and transit," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The ISAF mandate expired on 31 December 2014, according to the UN Security Council resolution 2120 adopted on 10 October 2013. "We received no appeals from NATO, NATO member-countries or countries taking part in ISAF on continuing cargo transit," the foreign ministry stressed. "In this connection, the governmental decree from 28 March 2008 was ruled null and void," the diplomatic agency added.